06.17 Weekly Message

Hi mama!

We had a lovely Father’s Day yesterday; my little one is so lucky to have such a wonderful papa.

My father passed away when I was 19, and though I didn’t get to spend as many years with him as most people do, the years we had together were meaningful and full of amazing lessons that I carry close to my heart.

Here are some things my father said to me when I was younger that shaped the mother I am today:

• “I trust you will do the right thing. I’m not here to tell you what to do; I’m here to guide you.”

• “If I don’t take an interest in the things you enjoy and grow with you, you will leave me behind.”

• “I believe you can conquer anything, but know you can always come home.”

So, thanks, Papa, for loving me and teaching me how to love my daughter—without conditions, without expectations.

And thanks, my love, for being the best papa to our little one.

EAT: With just a 30-minute prep time, you can whip up these meatball pitas in no time. The meatballs freeze well and also make a perfect pairing with pasta. For toddlers, a deconstructed version works great. You can serve the meatballs with pita and cucumber on the side. (link to recipe)

READ: I forgot to include a parenting book in my summer list so I’m stealing my husband’s pick! For June, I'll be diving into "Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be." This book is all about nurturing a positive and supportive parent-child relationship. (link to book)

PLAN: In case you missed it, last week I shared the system I use to plan activities. Many of you asked about the planner I use, so here it is—my entire monthly system:

• A monthly planner to mark key events and appointments.

• An activity log to help me brainstorm.

• A weekly activity organizer I use to map out the week.

DRINK: I hardly ever drink, except for the occasional celebratory glass of Prosecco. But I love the idea of a sleepy mocktail for the summer so I just ordered this Liquid Multimineral Sleep Supplement and I'm excited to try it. I'll keep you updated on how it works! (link to mocktail)

MOVEMENT: If you don’t know what disc golf is, neither did I until I met my husband. It’s a fantastic sport for little ones to get into, and the whole family can enjoy it. The courses are usually located in beautiful parks and many of them are free. Grandad found this little disc golf basket, which is perfect for Emi to get started. What I love about this basket is that you can use it as an outdoor game or create an indoor course as well.

Note: The basket is labeled for ages 5+, but I think it’s more suitable for ages 1-3. At age 5, I think is better to get an adult portable basket that the whole family can use.

SENSORY: This week, I want to try a "Frozen Treasures" activity. It’s pretty simple to set up, just freeze small toys or objects in ice cube trays or larger containers. Provide tools like spoons, squirt bottles, and warm water for your toddler to "rescue" the frozen treasures

MUSIC: What did I tell you? My mother-in-law finds the best instruments. Check out this cute little frog guiro: link

LANGUAGE: Ok, when I tell you I’ve read this book at least 50 times I am not kidding. Emi is obsessed! But what I love about this book is that is basically just pictures so the story is different each time. Every time we read it, we notice something new which allows for a rich language experience each time. (link to book)

NATURE: This week, we are visiting a botanical garden and you already know we are bringing a garden-themed scavenger hunt along!

LIFE SKILLS: Water play is a summertime staple and it’s a great time to work on our pouring skills. I’ll try to find some items at the thrift store that would help Emi practice pouring in different ways: jugs, pitchers, or big spoons. I’m hoping to find something like this: link. Wish me luck!

ART: I tried doing a cute art activity to use as a Father’s Day gift, and it was a fail. Emi was not interested. In general, she’s been lukewarm about coloring. I did some research, and according to Montessori, these are the best times to introduce art activities + other art activity options if your little one is not interested in coloring. (link to blog)

ps. All my free printables are available here.

*All of the linked products are independently selected and curated by me. If you love and buy something, I may earn a commission.